Portable loud speaker



Oct. 25, 1.932. w SCHELDQRF 1,884,280

PORTABLE LOUD SPEAKER File May 28. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l WM Hus AttornegI arvel W. Scheldorfi Oct. 25, 1932. w, sc R I 1,884,280

PORTABLE LOUD SPEAKER Inventor:

Marvel \X/.Schel dorf, y M m His Attorney Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE MARVEL W. SCHELDORF, OF OAKLYN, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PORTABLELoon SPEAKER Application filed Kay 28,

My invention relates to loud speaker apparatus, more particularly toloud speakers of the auditorium or large diaphragm type having adirectional horn-type baflie, and has for its principal object theprovision of a high capacity loud speaker of the auditorium type whichis readily portable.

It is well known that in order to obtain high quality reproduction ofsound over all frequencies in loud speaker apparatus ada ed to largevolume reproduction, as in au torium or similar use, it is necessarythat the apparatus be relatively bulky, comprising, for example, a largecone diaphragm, a

It relatively heavy electrodynamic driving unit for actuating thediaphragm, and a directional battle in the form of a tapered hornextending a'considerable distance from the diaphragm and having a wideopening atv 26 its bell portion.

In stationary installations, as in motion picture or other theaters, theloud speaker unit including the electrodynamic driver and the diaphragmmay be permanently mounted in place and permanently connected to thelarge horn. In case, however, it is required that loud speaker apparatusof this character be moved frequently from place to place, difficultiesare met with due to the bulk of the apparatus when moved in itsoperative condition. It is desirable therefore that means he providedwhereby the apparatus may be arranged for greater ease of handling andsafety in transportation.

In accordance with my invention these diificulties are obviated by theprovision of a loud speaker apparatus comprising a preferably sectionedhorn detachable from the loud speaker unit, and a carrying case associated with the horn and in which the speaker unit and horn are adaptedto be compactly enclosed when the apparatus is to be transported.

My invention will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of loud speakerapparatus in- 1981. Serial No. 540,683.

cluding a carrying case in which operating parts of the apparatus areenclosed for transportation; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1 but with the carrying case opened to show aloud speaker housing and horn mounted on portions of the carrying case;Fig. 3 is a perspective view of loud speaker apparatus shown in Fig. 2assembled in operative position; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of aclosure member of the carrying case.

Referring to Fig. 1, the carrying case 10 in which the operating partsof the apparatus are completely enclosed for transportation may besimilar in outside appearance to a suitcase and may comprise a basememher or portion 11, a cover member 12 hinged to the base member 11 anda closure member 13 fitted detachably to the lower portion of the basemember.

In assembling the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 2, the closure member 13is removed from the base member 11 and the cover member 12 is opened,exposing a horn, which in the present embodiment of the inventioncomprises a plurality of sections 14, 15, and a housing 16 in which aloud speaker unit 17 comprising a driving unit 18 and cone 19 is mountedas shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the larger section 14 of thehorn is preferably permanently connected at its larger end to aperturedbase member 11, but that the smaller horn section 15 and the loudspeaker housing 16 are detachably mounted upon the closure member 13 andheld in place during transportation, as by means including eyebolts 20.

To complete the assembly of the apparatus. as shown in Fig. 3, thesmaller horn section 15 is removed from its position in the closuremember 13 shown in Fig. 2 and fitted tothe larger horn section 14; theloud speaker housing 16 is then removed from member 13 V and 'fitted tothe small 'end of the smaller section 15 of the horn; and the horn andhous- 95 ing are fastened securely together by means including theabove-mentioned eye-bolts 20, which are arranged to extend between thesmaller end of the larger horn section 14: and the housing 16.

To provide a base for the assembled apparatus, thecover member 12 isswung around into line with the base member 11, the open end of the hornconnected to the latter member 11 thus being elevated a suitabledistance when the assembled loud speaker housing and horn are brought tothe horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3. The cover and base members11, 12 are preferably so formed that when the apparatus is in operativeposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower side of the cover forms arelatively Wide base for the apparatus. To support the loud speakerhousing end of the assembly, a strut 21 is provided which is preferablymade adjustable in length in order that the direction of sound from thehorn may be changed in the vertical plane when desired, the rigidlyconnected loud speaker unit and horn swinging about the hingedconnection between base member 11 and cover member 12 when the loudspeaker unit end of the assembly is raised or lowered by changing thelength of the strut.

The resulting assembled structure provides a large capacity loud speakerapparatus of the auditorium type having the high power cone diaphragmand the long and wide directional bafile in the form of a horn requiredto insure sound reproduction of the required volume and directionalcharacteristics.

To dismantle the assembled loud speaker unit and horn shown in Fig. 3and to prepare the apparatus for transportation, housing 16 and hornsection 15 are first disengaged from horn section 14 and the hingedcasing members 11, 12 by removing the bolts 20. Housing 16 is thenmounted centrally upon closure member 13, being centered, for example,by strips 22 fastened to member 13. The smaller horn section 15 is nextalso mounted upon closure member 13, the larger end of this sectionfitting closely about the larger end of housing 16. Housing 16 and hornsection 15 are then locked securely in place by the bolts 20 fastened tothe member 13 and to the smaller end of the horn section. The closuremember 13 is then placed upon the base member 11, the large horn section14 fitting over the small section 15. Finally the cover member 12 isclosed over the base member 11 and the carrying case is maintained inclosed position, as shown in Fig. 1, by any suitable means comprising,for example, lock 23 connected to the cover member 12 and the closuremember 13.

It will be seen that in the loud speaker apparatus described herein, theoperating parts and carrying case when arranged for trans- Eortationform a unit of comparatively small ulk and of size and shape convenientfor handling, that one of the horn sections is permanently securedrigidly to the case, and that the housing, in which the loud speakerunit is mounted, and the horn sections are securely nested one withinthe other. It will be seen further that this unit may be easily, quicklyand accurately assembled into its operating form, portions of thecarrying case being ut1- lized to form supporting elements for theoperating elements.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,

1. The combination of a carrying case and a loud speaker apparatusdisposed therein comprising a diaphragm, a driving unit therefor and ahorn adapted to be connected at one extremity to said diaphragm andconnected at the other extremity to said carrying case, said carryingcase forming a support for said speaker apparatus when said apparatus isin operative position.

2. The combination of a carrying case and a loud speaker apparatusdisposed therein comprising a diaphragm, a driving unit therefor and ahorn, adapted to be connected at one extremity to said diaphragm, saidcarrying case including a member having an aperture formed therein and amember adapted to close said aperture, said horn being connected at itsother extremity to said apertured member, said diaphragm and drivingunit being mounted upon said closure member, and said carrying caseforming a support for the larger extremity of said horn when saidapparatus is in operative position.

3. The combination of a carrying case and a loud speaker apparatusdisposed therein comprising a supporting member, a cone diaphragm and adriving unit therefor mounted upon said supporting member, and a horncomprising two sections, the larger of said sections being connected atits larger end to said case, the smaller of said sections being enclosedby said larger section, said sup orting member and the diaphragm anddrivin unit mounted thereon being enclosed by sai smaller section.

4. A portable loud speaker apparatus capable of assembly into operativeposition including a receptacle having a base member and a cover membertherefor, a loud speaker unit including a diaphragm and driving meanstherefor, a horn adapted to be connected to said loud speaker unit, saidbase having an opening therethrough for the passage of sound waves fromsaid diaphragm through said horn, the larger end of said horn beingconnected to said base member, and a closure member mounted detachablyupon said base member, said loud speaker unit being mounted upon saidclosure member and nested within said horn.

5. A portable loud speaker apparatus capable of assembly into operativeposition including a supporting member, a loud speaker unit connected tosaid member including a diaphragm and driving means therefor, a hornconnected to said supporting member adjacent to said diaphragm andincluding two sections, a casing including a casing member closing thelarger end of one of said sections, the other of said sections beingmounted upon said casing member and extending within said first-namedsection, said supporting member being mounted upon said casing memberand extending within said secondnamed section of said horn.

6. A loud speaker apparatus capable of bein assembled into operativeposition including a housing, a diaphragm and a driving unlt thereformounted within said housing, a horn connected to said housing includingtwo sections of difierent size, a casing connected to and enclosing thelarger section of said horn, the smaller section of said horn nestingwithin said larger section, said housing nesting within said smallersection.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

MARVEL W. SCHELDORF.

